Kojima comments on the Ground Zeroes opening scene

In a video released by IGN UK, Kojima comments on the entire Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes opening scene, providing some interesting behind-the-scenes information, as well as sharing some of the reasons behind certain choices.

For the opening shot Kojima initially wanted the whole camp on there, and on the sign the Konami and Kojima Productions logo which would then change to the Camp Omega logo. After discussing it with the team, the current low camera angle was decided to show off the lighting and shadows of the Fox Engine.

When Skull Face is introduced, the dogs are barking because they sense an enemy. This is done to indicate that this character is different from the regular soldiers on the base. The dogs were motion captured, as you will be able to see in the making of video.

The first shot of a face is the soldier saluting when Skull Face enters the camp, this is a 3D scanned actor.

When the searchlight hits the camera, a sound effect can be heard, just as happens during gameplay. This way, the player is introduced to the sound and its meaning.

Kojima didn’t want to show Skull Face right away, but slowly reveal him instead: first you see only his back, then you see part of him in the reflection of a soldier’s goggles. Because of this, the ‘XOF’ logo he is wearing is reversed, making it look like the famous ‘FOX’ logo.

The walkman Skull Face hands to Chico was also 3D scanned, Sony lent it to the studio for them to use. The young staff members didn’t know what it was, and were surprised when Kojima told them this is what you used for listening to music back in the day.

Chico was 3D scanned as well, but because he was an already existing character they had to find an actor who closely resembled him. In the end, they used four or five actors and mixed them together to create the look for Chico.

The lighting in this scene was very difficult as well, and they had a couple of people specialized in movie lighting to assist them.

The song if from Sacco & Vanzetti, a movie Kojima really likes (a cover of the song by Harry Gregson-Williams also played during the credits of MGS4). The relationship between Chico and Paz and between Snake and Kaz mirrors the relationship between the characters in the movie. There are a lot of hints in the lyrics. Kojima points out there is a part where they mention ‘victory’, which relates to the ‘V’ in MGSV. This has several meanings, which Kojima didn’t want to give away.

The motion capture during the part where everyone gets in the jeep, was really, really difficult, according to Kojima. They built something resembling a jeep for the actors to get in, but it didn’t actually move, so they had a screen showing what was happening in the game. But since not everyone could see the screen, they had to yell at the actors what part of the route they were going through.

Because the scene of the jeeps driving is one, long shot (as is the entire intro), if the player were to follow this route back, he should be able to figure out where Chico is located.

Again, the ‘XOF’ patch is seen in reverse in the mirror of the jeep, to make it look like it says ‘FOX’.

The part where the soldiers approach the helicopter was very difficult as well. Kojima wanted to have many people on screen, but because they couldn’t capture them all at the same time, they had to be done separately. So they marked the routes of each soldier to make sure they wouldn’t overlap. Because of this, the scene took them several days.

Here it is revealed that it’s actually ‘XOF’ (on the side of the helicopter), and you see Skull Face’s face. But he actually doesn’t have a face.

Kojima is a fan of movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner, and their use of lens flares. He also reveals that the lens flare in this specific scene (made out of rows of blocks of light) was inspired by one used by Japanese idol group AKB48.

The XOF group prepares to attack by disguising themselves, throwing out their badges. This plays a part in the story but also in the gameplay, as the player has to collect them.

The XOF badge falling down is immediately followed by the FOX patch on Snake’s suit, indicating that they are opposites, ‘like light and shadow’.

The scene of Snake climbing the cliff was inspired by The Guns of Navarone.

First you see Snake’s back, then his face is obscured by the night vision goggles. It looks kind of like Splinter Cell, until he removes his goggles, and it’s unmistakably Snake.

As Snake watches the camp, you can make out the route the camera took earlier in the scene.

The iDroid’s futuristic technology is meant to look like sci-fi elements from that era.

Im sure the dogs where supposed to remain in that area, because when you make too much noise and the other POWS hear you, a guard will come along to shut up them, sometimes his line will be ‘shut up ,you damn mutt’

Why where the dogs removed?

Machine Gun Kid

I was actually on the look out for the hounds first time i played gz. I was expecting to run into some.

glitchbomb

Maybe they had trouble with the scent function. Hah..I have no idea. It is weird though. Oh, or maybe they took them out because the way the dogs were programmed was difficult to pull off on all platforms within their release time frame, and it wouldn’t make the final build for each console, so in order to create a more fluid experience between platforms they just took them out!? Haha, I am Just randomly guessing at this point. It is a great question though!

Yeah, its no deal breaker, the game is astounding as Im sure you both know 😀

Hope your sneakings going well!

William of Orange

Lol, I actually thought that the song “here’s to you” would be played when Skull Face would order or commit a brutal act on a prisoner (similar to the Song “hip to be square” in American Psycho or “Sing” in MGS PW. It adds tension to the scene)

Machine Gun Kid

Sing ah soooooooong! lol

glitchbomb

Please tell me I am not the anyone with this damn song stuck in their head!! I find myself humming it randomly for the past couple days. I don’t mind the song really, except or the fact that it is like there is only one verse…repeated continuously! haha

Its like the song that doesn’t end.
Yes it goes oooon aaand oooon my frieeeend!

William of Orange

I gladly(??) confirm you that you’re not the only one!
Here’s to the entire community of MGI!

Kaniebas

Finally got to play it on PS4. Ground Zeroes is AWESOME! Incredibly fun and the gameplay is very deep. Can’t wait for the Phantom Pain! WIll be going on a media blackout though because I think Hideo gives away too much in his trailers 😛

That’s not surprising for japan. they prefer straight to new gadget and don’t care about old ones. plus if the young staff are born from mid-to-low-class family, it’s expected they don’t know what walkman is, because not all of people had one.

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